Composition of matter.



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SIGMUND WILLNER, OF RAHWAY, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE \VILLNER WOODCOMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

COMPOSITION OF MATTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 676,828, dated June 18,1901.

Application filed December 19, 1900. Serial No. 40,441. (No specimens.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SIeMuND WILLNER, a subject of the Emperor ofGermany, and a resident of and having a post-oflice address at Rahway,in the county of Union, State of New Jersey, have invented certain newand useful Compositions of Matter, of which the following is a full andtrue specification.

The object of my invention is to produce compositions of matter usefulin the arts and manufactures, especially in the manufacture ofimitations of or substitutes for natural materials-such as metals, bone,horn, ivory, agate, marble, onyx, mica, leather, amber, &c.-+andartificial materials-such as glass, jet, gutta-percha, rubber,celluloid, enamel, porcelain, paper, &c.and which may be readily andsafely worked or manipulated in the same manner as the materialsimitated 01' for which they are substitutes.

Gelatin or a gelatinous substance, preferably one obtained from animaltissue, constitutes the base or body of my new composition, and withthis substance is mixed aldehyde or other suitable substance, whichgives to the mixture the quality of insolubility, and other substances,which render the composition unintlammable and capable of withstandingatmospheric changes and variations of temperature.

Pigments or other substances for coloring, staining, bleaching,thickening, or strengthening the same may be added to the newcomposition, and batches or portions of differently colored, tinted, orconstituted com positions may be mixed or arranged in superimposed,stratified, pitted, or other form to imitate the surface or sectionalappearance of wood, bone, horn, ivory, agate, carnelian, marble, onyx,stained or ornamental glass, the. For the purpose of making theseimitations the processes employed in working celluloid, rubber, or likemanufacture may be followed.

In making the preferred form of my new composition the workman dissolvesor liquefies the gelatinous substance (such as animal albumin) underheat, and to the material, preferably while fluid or soft, he addsaldehyde (preferably in solution) for rendering the compositioninsoluble in water, and a mixture of acetate of lead, gum, and alum forrendering the resulting composition uninflammable and proof againstatmospheric and temperature variations.

In practice I have found that the gelatinous or organic substance toconstitute the base or body of the composition maybe heated or boiled ina steam-jacketed pan until thoroughly dissolved, a small quantity ofwater-- say ten parts-being added to facilitate boiling and to preventburning. When the ge latinous substance is thoroughly dissolved, thealdehyde or other material for rendering the composition insoluble isadded. For this purpose I prefer a solution containing from two to tenper cent. of aldehyde in water, the mixture being thoroughly stirredbefore solidification. Pigments or other coloring, staining, orbleaching matters or other ingredients, according to the articles to bemade,

are mixed with the composition, preferably while hot and soft or fluid,until the whole mass is thoroughly incorporated. The alde hyde ispreferably added after the pigments or other ingredients (if employed)have been incorporated. The relative proportions of aldehyde and wateror other substance in the aldehyde solution may be varied to suit therequirements. As an instance I have secured good results in themanufacture of imitation ivory when Iemploy a two-per-cent. aldehydesolution.

In order to adapt the composition to withstand atmospheric andtemperature variations without cracking or breaking, the workman adds tothe mass (while still hot) a suitable substance or substances-such as amixture of acetate of lead, gum, and alum, (preferably in substantiallyequal quantities and in the proportion of about three parts of eachingredient to one hundred parts of the gelatinous composition)-and thematerial is thoroughly incorporated in the mass by stirring.

A composition, either flexible or stiff, made in accordance with myinvention is non-inflammable, insoluble in water, and will not beinjured, softened, or cracked by ordinary atmospheric changes or by dryor cold air. The harder forms may be worked with tools or machinery intomany articles, to which when desired a high polish or finish may beimparted.

To further protect the composition from the effects of atmospheric andtemperature variations,1nasses thereof or articles produced therefrommay be dipped in or coated,painted, or varnished with substances adaptedto resist hot and cold air and dampness. Suitable substances are amixture of paraffin with a solution of gutta-percha dissolved inbenzolin or a mixture of asphalt and guttapercha.

In order to soften my new composition, solvents may be employed to actalone or with or after the use of heat, and the softened composition canbe manipulated under pressure, if desired, in conjunction with heat inmany waysfor instance, being forced through a nozzle or open plate toform rods or tubes.

When the resulting compound is to be of excessive hardness to be turnedin a lathe or otherwise machined for the production of buttons,golf-balls, cane-handles, tool-holders, 850., and especially for long orlarge articles, the workman adds to the composition, preferably whileplastic or semisoft, a mixture or solution of casein, quicklime, andgutta-percha or other hardening material, and the composition or articlemade therefrom is then preferably allowed to slowly dry in a closedcompartment at a temperature of, say, Fahrenheit.

I do not desire to be understood as c0nf1ning my invention to solid orplastic compositions.

My new composition may be produced in fluid and semitiuid conditions foruse as paints or varnishes or substitute therefor. For this purpose theproportion of gelatinous substance (the animal tissue, for instance) maybe increased and the mixture is heated,(preferablyto 110.) The aldehydesolution (preferably a solution of eight or ten per cent.) is added whenthe gelatinous base or body has been thoroughly boiled. The result is afluid or semifluid composition which may be applied to a base as a paintor varnish and which when dry becomes a solid and very durable film orsheet.

A composition made under my invention may be applied to cloth, leather,or other pliable or stiff material, (either as a coating or bysaturation,) and the resulting article,sheet, or strip may be used formany purposes in the arts, such as book-covers, belts, collars, cuffs,&c.

My new composition is an excellent one for insulating electricalapparatus or conductors and may be used in the same ways as otherinsulating materials.

Vhile I have hcreinbefore referred to specific mixtures and specificproportions of the ingredients, yet I do not desire to be understood aslimiting my invention thereto, nor do I desire to be understood aslimiting my invention to the use of the particular ingredients. In placeof or in addition to the aldehyde other substance or material for givinglike properties to the mixture may be employed, and in conjunction withor as a substitute for the mixture of acetate of lead, gum, and alumother material for rendering the composition unin flammable andtemperature resisting may be employed. Obviously the mixtures andproperties will be varied to suit the requirements of each particularcase, the experience or judgment of the skilled workmen being relied on.

\Vhat I claim is- 1. A new composition, consisting of an insolublegelatinous mass or body in combination with acetate of lead, gum andalum, for rendering the mass resistant to atmospheric and temperaturevariations.

2. A new composition, consisting of an-insoluble gelatinous mass or bodycontaining aldehyde,in combination with acetate of lead, gum and alum,for rendering the mass resistant to atmospheric and temperaturevariations.

3. A new composition, consisting of an insoluble gelatin mass or body,containing material for rendering the mass resistant to atmospheric andtemperature variations, and an applied coating consisting of a mixturecontaining gutta-percha.

4. A new composition consisting of a gelatinous mass or body, and ofmaterials, substantially such as described, thoroughly incorporatedtherewith, for rendering the mass insolublein water, together withacetate of lead, gum and alum, for rendering the mass resistant toatmospheric and temperature variations.

5. A new composition, consisting of an insoluble gelatinous mass orb0dy,and an applied protective coating consisting of a mixture ofparaffin and gutta-percha.

6. A new composition, consisting of an insoluble gelatinous mass orbody, and an applied protective coating consisting of a mixturecontaining gutta-percha.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name this 4th day ofDecember, 1900.

SIGMUND VVILLNER.

In presence of- GEORGE WILLIAM BUR-LEIGH, WILLIAM TUOHS SEAMAN.

